Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini

Timeline of History

Adolf Hitler begins a week-long visit with his ally, Benito Mussolini, in Rome. It is believed that Hitler is attempting to prepare Mussolini for the coming German move on Austria.

Italians believe that they have historic claims on the region of Tyrol, once administered by the Roman empire but which is now populated by ethnic Germans and governed by Austria.

Adolf Hitler must thus balance his ideological goal of bringing all ethnic Germans under the Nazi banner and preserving good relations with fascistItaly. Germany and Italy almost went to war in 1934 when Nazi agents assassinated Engelbert Dollfuß, fascist dictator of Austria and close ally of Mussolini.

By 1938, though, relations between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy have grown better and Mussolini is willing to accept the Anschluss of Austria in exchange for Italian control over Tyrol.